Skywatch Line for Wednesday and Thursday, November 1 and 2, 2023
This is Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Wednesday and Thursday, November 1 and 2, written by Alan French.
The Sun rises at 7:29 A.M. on Wednesday and sets at 5:48 P.M. On Thursday it rises at 7:30 and sets at 5:47. This Thursday has 15 ¾ minutes less daylight than last Thursday.
The Moon was full this past Saturday and is now moving toward last quarter. The Moon rises in the northeast at 8:20 P.M. Wednesday, appearing 80% in sunlight. On Thursday it rises at 9:17 P.M. and will be
71% illuminated. It will reach last quarter this coming Sunday.
The Moon now crosses high in the sky. When it is due south at 4:38 A.M. Thursday morning it will be 75 degrees above the horizon. Friday morning it will be due south and highest, 74 degrees up, at 5:32 A.M.
Jupiter reaches opposition, opposite the Sun in our skies, early Friday. Our solar system’s largest planet, now at magnitude -2.9, is high up in the southeast, 40 degrees above the horizon, at 11:00 P.M.
If you are up early Thursday morning under clear skies you have a chance to see both manned space stations, Tiangong and the International Space Station (ISS). Tiangong will appear earlier, under darker skies, but the ISS, being larger and reflecting more sunlight, will be brighter.
On Thursday morning Tiangong will move out of the Earth’s shadow and into view just before 6:16 A.M. when 29 degrees above the western horizon. At 6:16 it will pass just south of Aldebaran, the brightest
star in Taurus, the Bull. The Chinese space station will then pass south of the gibbous Moon and through Gemini, the Twins. At 6:17 it will pass by Castor and Pollux, the two luminaries in Gemini. Tiangong will then go through Leo, the Lion, leaving the constellation just after 6:18 while passing north of brilliant Venus. The space station will fade considerably as it moves down to the eastern horizon.
Thursday morning the ISS will move out of the Earth’s shadow just before 6:41 when 11 degrees above the northwestern horizon. Just after 6:42 it will pass through the conspicuous “W” of stars forming Cassiopeia, the Queen, toward the north northwest. Just after 6:43 the ISS will pass just above Polaris, the North Star, and above the Little Dipper, then passing through the handle of the Big Dipper at 6:44. The ISS will then head down toward the east southeastern horizon, passing above bright Arcturus at 6:45 and disappearing around 6:47.
When near its highest the ISS will reach magnitude -3.1. Compare it will Venus, shining at magnitude -4.3 in the southeast.